Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 31

Prākṛta-pralaya, Pratisarga Doctrine, and the Ishvara-Samanvaya of Yoga and Devotion

Devanagari script

एकैकस्य सहस्राणि देहानां वै शतानि च / कथ्यन्ते चैव माहात्म्याच्छक्तिरेकैव निर्गुणाः

Transliteration

ekaikasya sahasrāṇi dehānāṃ vai śatāni ca / kathyante caiva māhātmyācchaktirekaiva nirguṇāḥ

Translation

Para sa bawat nilalang, sinasabing may libu-libo—maging daan-daan—na katawan. Ngunit dahil sa Kataas-taasang Kadakilaan, iisa lamang ang Kapangyarihan, at ito’y nirguṇa—lampas sa lahat ng katangian.

Word by Word

• एकैकस्य: of each (one)
• एकैकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक (प्रातिपदिक; एक+एक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे (of each one)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) बहुवचनम्

• देहानाम्: of bodies
• देहानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचनम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/assurance)

• शतानि: hundreds
• शतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• कथ्यन्ते: are stated
• कथ्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present) आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (are said/are described)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• माहात्म्यात्: due to (its) greatness
• माहात्म्यात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) एकवचनम्

• शक्तिः: power/energy
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्

• एका: one
• एका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; शक्तिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• निर्गुणा: without qualities (attribute-less)
• निर्गुणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक; निः+गुण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; शक्तिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages (Iśvara-gītā style teaching in the Upari-bhāga)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śakti
• Nirguṇa (Brahman/Iśvara)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It suggests that while embodiments are spoken of as many (even innumerable), the ultimate reality powering them is one—nirguṇa—indicating a single transcendent Self/Power behind all multiplicity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports meditative discernment (viveka) central to Pāśupata-leaning Yoga and Vedānta: withdrawing attention from changing bodies and recognizing the one nirguṇa Śakti/Iśvara as the inner ground of experience.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By emphasizing one nirguṇa Śakti behind all forms, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian thrust: Śiva and Viṣṇu can be revered as expressions of the same supreme, attributeless reality.